JP6770362B2 - Disconnect device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a disconnect device that switches between a connected state and a disconnected state.

Conventionally, in a four-wheel drive vehicle, the two-wheel drive state in which the driving force is transmitted from the drive source to the main drive wheels and the four-wheel drive state in which the drive force is transmitted from the drive source to the main drive wheels and the auxiliary drive wheels are switched. It is possible. Then, in order to switch between the two-wheel drive state and the four-wheel drive state, a connected state in which the driving force is transmitted from the drive source to the auxiliary drive wheels and a drive are performed at a predetermined position in the power transmission path from the drive source to the auxiliary drive wheels. A disconnect device is provided that can switch between a disconnected state in which the driving force is not transmitted from the source to the auxiliary drive wheels.

As a disconnect device, the tooth part formed on the outer peripheral surface of the input shaft where the driving force is input and the tooth part formed on the outer peripheral surface of the output shaft where the driving force is output are spline-coupled and slidable. A sleeve provided with an actuator for moving the sleeve in the axial direction has been proposed.

In this disconnect device, the driving force is transmitted to the auxiliary drive wheels by spline-coupling the sleeve to both teeth, and the driving force is not transmitted to the auxiliary drive wheels by spline-coupling the sleeve to only one tooth. It has become like.

JP-A-2009-166706

In the disconnect device described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to provide a mechanism for moving the sleeve and an actuator for moving the sleeve, and there is a problem that the device as a whole becomes large.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a disconnect device capable of miniaturizing the device as a whole.

In order to solve the above problems, the disconnect device of the present invention is rotatably accommodated in a first rotating body having a first groove formed on an inner peripheral surface of an accommodating hole formed at one end and the accommodating hole. A second rotating body having a second groove formed on the outer peripheral surface at a position facing the first groove in the axial direction, and the first groove having a thickness at least in the first groove in the radial direction. By passing a current through an elastic member of a magnetic material that is elastically deformed in the circumferential direction and is equal to or greater than the thickness of the second groove and a coil provided in the second rotating body. It is provided with an attracting portion that attracts the elastic member inward in the radial direction.

Further, it is preferable that the first groove, the second groove and the elastic member are formed in a tapered shape in which the end faces in the circumferential direction spread outward in the radial direction.

Further, the elastic member may have flat surfaces on all four sides along the radial direction and the axial direction.

Further, it is preferable that a chamfer is formed on the peripheral end surface of the second groove or on the second groove side of the circumferential end surface of the elastic member.

According to the present invention, the device as a whole can be miniaturized.

It is a figure which shows the structure of a vehicle. FIG. 2A is a diagram showing a configuration of a disconnect device, and FIG. 2B is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 2A. It is a perspective view of a spring key. It is a figure explaining the switching from the disconnection state to the connection state in the disconnect device. It is a figure explaining the switching from the connected state to the disconnected state in the disconnect device.

A preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The dimensions, materials, other specific numerical values, and the like shown in the embodiment are merely examples for facilitating the understanding of the invention, and do not limit the present invention unless otherwise specified. In the present specification and drawings, elements having substantially the same function and configuration are designated by the same reference numerals to omit duplicate description, and elements not directly related to the present invention are not shown. To do.

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a configuration of a vehicle 1. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 1 is an automobile having an engine 2 as a power source. Here, an engine vehicle having the engine 2 as the drive source will be described as an example, but an electric vehicle having the drive source as the motor and a hybrid vehicle having the drive source as the engine and the motor may be applied.

In the vehicle 1, the engine 2, the torque converter 3, and the transmission 4 are connected in this order. The engine 2 is, for example, a reciprocating engine in which the reciprocating motion of the piston is converted into a rotary motion via a crankshaft.

In the torque converter 3, the pump impeller connected to the engine 2 is rotated by the engine 2, so that the turbine liner connected to the transmission 4 is rotated via the oil contained therein. In this way, the torque converter 3 transmits the driving force (torque) of the engine 2 to the transmission 4.

The transmission 4 is, for example, a stepped transmission composed of a plurality of planetary gears, or a continuously variable transmission (CVT) composed of a pair of pulleys and a chain spanned by the pair of pulleys. ) Etc. are applied.

The drive pinion 20 of the front differential 6 is connected to the output shaft 4a of the transmission 4 via the transfer 5, and the propeller shaft 10 is connected to the rear end via the clutch 9.

The front differential 6 includes a drive pinion 20, a ring gear 21 that meshes with the drive pinion 20, a differential case 22 to which the ring gear 21 is fixed, a pinion shaft 23 rotatably supported in the differential case 22, and two fixed to the pinion shaft 23. It is composed of a differential pinion 24 and two side gears 25 that mesh with the differential pinion 24. The left and right drive shafts 7 are connected to the side gears 25, respectively, and the left and right front wheels 8 are connected to the drive shafts 7 as main drive wheels, respectively.

As a result, the driving force output from the engine 2 is transmitted to the front wheels 8 via the torque converter 3, the transmission 4, the transfer 5, the front differential 6, and the drive shaft 7 while allowing the differential rotation of the drive shaft 7. To.

The clutch 9 has, for example, a pair of clutch plates, and the pair of clutch plates are brought into contact with and separated from each other by hydraulic pressure. The clutch 9 connects the output shaft 4a of the transmission 4 and the propeller shaft 10 in a connected state in which a pair of clutch plates are in contact with each other. Further, the clutch 9 disengages the output shaft 4a of the transmission 4 and the propeller shaft 10 in a disengaged state in which the pair of clutch plates are separated from each other.

The drive pinion 30 of the rear differential 11 is connected to the rear end of the propeller shaft 10. The rear differential 11 includes a drive pinion 30, a ring gear 31 that meshes with the drive pinion 30, a differential case 32 to which the ring gear 31 is fixed, a pinion shaft 33 rotatably supported in the differential case 32, and two fixed to the pinion shaft 33. It is composed of a differential pinion 34 and two side gears 35 that mesh with the differential pinion 34.

The left and right rear wheel drive shafts 12 are connected to the side gears 35 via the disconnect device 100, and the left and right rear wheels 13 are connected to the rear wheel drive shafts 12 as auxiliary drive wheels, respectively. The configuration of the disconnect device 100 will be described in detail later, but the disconnect device 100 can switch between a connected state and a disconnected state, and the side gear 35 and the rear wheel drive shaft 12 are connected in the connected state. The side gear 35 and the rear wheel drive shaft 12 are cut in the cut state.

Further, the vehicle 1 is provided with a control unit 14. The control unit 14 is, for example, a TCU (Transmission Control Unit), and is composed of a semiconductor integrated circuit including a central processing unit (CPU), a ROM in which a program or the like is stored, a RAM as a work area, and the like, and is composed of a transmission 4, a clutch, and the like. 9 and the disconnect device 100 are appropriately controlled.

The control unit 14 controls the clutch 9 and the disconnect device 100 in the connected state in the four-wheel drive state, and transmits the driving force from the engine 2 to the front wheels 8 and the rear wheels 13.

Further, the control unit 14 controls the clutch 9 and the disconnect device 100 in the disconnected state in the two-wheel drive state, and transmits the driving force from the engine 2 only to the front wheels 8. Further, by cutting the rear differential 11 and the rear wheel drive shaft 12 by the disconnect device 100, the rear differential 11 is suppressed from being rotationally driven, and the running resistance of the vehicle 1 due to the oil stirring resistance of the rear differential 11 is reduced. Reduce.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the disconnect device 100 will be described. FIG. 2A is a diagram showing the configuration of the disconnect device 100, and FIG. 2B is a sectional view taken along line BB in FIG. 2A. The rear wheel drive shaft 12 and the side gear 35 function as a part of the disconnect device 100.

As shown in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the disconnect device 100 includes a rear wheel drive shaft 12 (first rotating body), a side gear 35 (second rotating body), and a coil unit 102 (second rotating body). Body), spring key 104 (elastic member), + electrode 106, − electrode 108, conductive member 110, and coil 112 (attracting portion).

The rear wheel drive shaft 12 is formed with a substantially cylindrical accommodating hole 12b along the axial direction on one end surface 12a on the side gear 35 side. The coil unit 102 is held in the accommodating hole 12b so as to be relatively rotatable. Further, in the rear wheel drive shaft 12, three first grooves 12d are formed at predetermined positions in the axial direction on the inner peripheral surface 12c of the accommodating hole 12b at intervals of 120 ° in the circumferential direction.

The length of the first groove 12d in the circumferential direction is longer than the natural length of the spring key 104, which will be described later (almost the same length as the natural length), and the radial depth is longer than the radial thickness of the spring key 104. Moreover, the width in the axial direction is formed longer than the width of the spring key 104. Further, the first groove 12d is formed in a tapered shape in which both end faces in the circumferential direction expand toward the outer side in the radial direction.

Further, the rear wheel drive shaft 12 has two conductive members 110 wound around the outer peripheral surface 12e in the circumferential direction, and the tips of the conductive members 110 are each made of a conductive metal ball. The + electrode 106 and the − electrode 108 are brought into contact with each other. Therefore, the + electrode 106 and the − electrode 108 always come into contact with the conductive member 110 even when the rear wheel drive shaft 12 rotates.

The coil unit 102 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and is rotatably held in the accommodating hole 12b of the rear wheel drive shaft 12. Further, in the coil unit 102, an insertion hole 102b having inner peripheral teeth formed is formed along the axial direction on one end surface 102a on the side gear 35 side.

Further, when the outer peripheral surface 102c of the coil unit 102 is held in the accommodating hole 12b of the rear wheel drive shaft 12, the three third positions are axially opposed to the first groove 12d at 120 ° intervals in the circumferential direction. Two grooves 102d are formed. The circumferential length of the second groove 102d is longer than the natural length of the spring key 104 (for example, 1.5 times the natural length), and the radial depth is shorter than the radial thickness of the spring key 104 (for example). , 1/3 of the thickness of the spring key 104), and the width in the axial direction is formed longer than the thickness in the axial direction of the spring key 104. Further, the second groove 102d is formed in a tapered shape in which both ends in the circumferential direction expand toward the outer side in the radial direction, and the chamfer 102f (see FIG. 5) is provided on the outer side in the radial direction.

The coil unit 102 is provided with coils 112 on the inside in the radial direction of the second groove 102d, and these coils 112 are connected in series by a conducting wire. Then, both ends of the conducting wire including the coil 112 are connected to the two conductive members 110, respectively.

Further, in the coil unit 102, an oil groove 102g through which oil can flow along the axial direction is formed on the outer peripheral surface 102c.

The side gear 35 has outer peripheral teeth formed at one end on the coil unit 102 side, is spline-coupled to the coil unit 102, and rotates integrally with the coil unit 102.

The spring key 104 has a radial thickness of less than the first groove 12d, a second groove 102d or more, and is arranged at least in the first groove 12d of the rear wheel drive shaft 12.

FIG. 3 (a) shows a perspective view of the natural length spring key 104, and FIG. 3 (b) shows a perspective view of the compressed spring key 104. The spring key 104 is made of a magnetic metal material, and as shown in FIGS. 3 (a) and 3 (b), the rear wheel drive shaft 12 and the coil unit 102 have flat surfaces in all directions along the radial and axial directions. It is an elastically deformable member wound spirally so as to have 104a. When the spring key 104 is housed in the first groove 12d of the rear wheel drive shaft 12, the spring key 104 rotates in the first groove 12d and the second groove 102d by having the flat surface portions 104a in all directions along the radial direction and the axial direction. Is prevented.

Further, when the spring key 104 is housed in the first groove 12d of the rear wheel drive shaft 12, both ends of the spring key 104 become longer in the radial direction so that the entire length becomes longer in the radial direction. It is formed in a tapered shape that spreads out.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating switching from the disconnected state to the connected state in the disconnect device 100. In FIG. 4, the rotation directions of the rear wheel drive shaft 12 and the coil unit 102 are indicated by white arrow lines, and the rotation speed of the coil unit 102 is relatively higher than that of the rear wheel drive shaft 12. There is.

As shown in FIG. 4A, when the disconnect device 100 is disconnected, the spring key 104 is accommodated in the first groove 12d of the rear wheel drive shaft 12 by centrifugal force.

Then, when the disconnect device 100 is switched from the disconnected state to the connected state, a current is applied between the + electrode 106 and the − electrode 108 based on the control of the control unit 14. Then, a magnetic field is generated by the current flowing through the coil 112, and the conductive spring key 104 is attracted inward in the radial direction.

Then, when the first groove 12d of the rear wheel drive shaft 12 and the second groove 102d of the coil unit 102 face each other due to the differential rotation between the rear wheel drive shaft 12 and the coil unit 102, as shown in FIG. 4B. In addition, the magnetic field generated by the coil 112 attracts the spring key 104 until it abuts on the bottom surface of the second groove 102d.

Since the coil unit 102 has a relatively higher rotation speed than the rear wheel drive shaft 12, the spring key 104 has a front surface 12f on the front side in the circumferential direction of the first groove 12d, as shown in FIG. 4C. , It is sandwiched between the rear surface 102e on the rear side in the circumferential direction of the second groove 102d. At this time, the impact can be alleviated by contracting the spring key 104 in the circumferential direction.

After that, the coil unit 102 advances relative to the rear wheel drive shaft 12, and the distance between the front surface 12f of the first groove 12d and the rear surface 102e of the second groove 102d approaches, as shown in FIG. 4D. When the spring key 104 is most contracted, it is in a connected state, and the side gear 35 and the rear wheel drive shaft 12 are connected.

FIG. 5 is a diagram illustrating switching from the connected state to the disconnected state in the disconnect device 100. In FIG. 5, the rotation directions of the rear wheel drive shaft 12 and the coil unit 102 are indicated by white arrow lines, and the rotation speed of the coil unit 102 is relatively lower than that of the rear wheel drive shaft 12. There is.

As shown in FIG. 5A, when the disconnect device 100 is connected, the spring key 104 is sandwiched between the first groove 12d and the second groove 102d in a compressed state.

Then, when the disconnect device 100 is switched from the connected state to the disconnected state, no current is applied between the + electrode 106 and the − electrode 108 under the control of the control unit 14. Then, the magnetic field disappears because no current flows through the coil 112, and the conductive spring key 104 is attracted radially outward by centrifugal force.

Further, both ends of the spring key 104 in the circumferential direction, the front surface 12f of the first groove 12d, and the rear surface 102e of the second groove 102d are both formed in a tapered shape so as to expand outward in the radial direction. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5B, the component force of the normal force generated between the front surface 12f of the first groove 12d and the rear surface 102e of the second groove 102d acts on the spring key 104 radially outward. ..

Therefore, in the disconnect device 100, when the magnetic field of the coil 112 disappears, the spring key 104 is moved to the first groove 12d side at an early stage by the components of the centrifugal force and the normal force.

Further, even when the spring key 104 is not completely housed in the first groove 12d, the chamfer 102f is provided on the end face of the second groove 102d in the circumferential direction, which is shown in FIG. 5 (c). As described above, when the spring key 104 comes into contact with the chamfer 102f, the spring key 104 is pushed out radially outward.

Then, as shown in FIG. 5D, when the spring key 104 is completely housed in the first groove 12d, it is in a disconnected state, and the side gear 35 and the rear wheel drive shaft 12 are in a disconnected state.

As described above, in the disconnect device 100, the first groove 12d is formed on the inner peripheral surface 12c of the accommodating hole 12b of the rear wheel drive shaft 12, and the second groove 102d is formed on the outer peripheral surface 102c of the coil unit 102. It is formed. Further, in the disconnect device 100, at least a spring key 104 that expands and contracts in the circumferential direction is housed in the first groove 12d, and a coil 112 is provided inside the second groove 102d in the radial direction.

As a result, the disconnect device 100 applies a current to the coil 112 to attract the spring key 104 inward in the radial direction, so that the spring key 104 is sandwiched between the first groove 12d and the second groove 102d to be connected. Further, the disconnect device 100 stops the application of the current to the coil 112 and attracts the spring key 104 to the outside in the radial direction by centrifugal force, so that the spring key 104 is accommodated in the first groove 12d to be in a disconnected state.

As described above, when the disconnection device 100 is switched from the disconnected state to the connected state, when the spring key 104 is sandwiched between the first groove 12d and the second groove 102d, the spring key 104 contracts to alleviate the impact, thereby operating. It is possible to reduce the discomfort caused by the impact on a person or the like. Further, the disconnect device 100 does not need to be provided with an actuator or the like, has a simple configuration, and can be miniaturized as a whole device.

Although the preferred embodiment of the present invention has been described above with reference to the accompanying drawings, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to such an embodiment. It is clear that a person skilled in the art can come up with various modifications or modifications within the scope of the claims, and it is understood that these also naturally belong to the technical scope of the present invention. Will be done.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the coil unit 102 and the side gear 35 are provided as separate bodies, but the coil unit 102 and the side gear 35 may be integrally formed.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the rear wheel drive shaft 12 as the first rotating body and the coil unit 102 and the side gear 35 as the second rotating body have been described as examples. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the first rotating body and the second rotating body may be any rotating body. That is, the disconnect device 100 may switch between the connected state and the disconnected state of the various first rotating bodies and the second rotating bodies.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the front surface 12f of the first groove 12d and the rear surface 102e of the second groove 102d are both formed in a tapered shape so as to expand outward in the radial direction. It is not essential that it be formed in a shape. However, since it is formed in a tapered shape, it is possible to switch from the connected state to the disconnected state at an early stage.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the chamfer 102f is formed in the second groove 102d, but the chamfer 102f is not essential. However, by forming the chamfer 102f, it is possible to switch from the connected state to the disconnected state at an early stage. Further, a chamfer may be formed on the second groove 102d side of the end face of the spring key 104 in the circumferential direction.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the coil 112 is used as an attracting portion for attracting the spring key 104 inward in the radial direction, but the coil 112 is not limited to the coil 112 as long as the spring key 104 can be attracted inward in the radial direction. For example, it may be attracted mechanically.

The present invention can be used for a disconnect device that switches between a connected state and a disconnected state.

12 Rear wheel drive shaft (first rotating body)
12c Inner peripheral surface 12d 1st groove 35 Side gear (2nd rotating body)
102 Coil unit (second rotating body)
102c Outer surface 102d Second groove 104 Spring key (elastic member)
112 coil (attracting part)

Claims (4)

A first rotating body having a first groove formed on the inner peripheral surface of the accommodating hole formed at one end,
A second rotating body that is rotatably accommodated in the accommodating hole and has a second groove formed on the outer peripheral surface at a position facing the first groove in the axial direction.
An elastic member of a magnetic material that is arranged in at least the first groove and whose radial thickness is less than the thickness of the first groove and equal to or larger than the thickness of the second groove and elastically deforms in the circumferential direction. When,
An attractive portion that attracts the elastic member inward in the radial direction by passing an electric current through a coil provided in the second rotating body .
A disconnect device characterized by being provided with. The disconnect device according to claim 1, wherein the first groove, the second groove, and the elastic member have end faces in the circumferential direction formed in a tapered shape extending outward in the radial direction. The elastic member is
The disconnect device according to claim 2, further comprising flat surfaces on all four sides along the radial direction and the axial direction. Any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a chamfer is formed on the peripheral end surface of the second groove or on the second groove side of the circumferential end surface of the elastic member. The disconnect device described in the section.

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